Fountain toothbrush



Oct. 21, 1941. D. B. EATON FOUNTAIN TOOTHBRUSH Filed June 7, 1940 l n venor Panam ,E Ea/Zfow Patented Oct. 2l, i941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOUNTAIN TOOTHBRUSH Diman B. Eaton, Salem, N. H.

Application June 7, 1940, Serial No. 339,381

1 Claim. (Cl. 15-136) This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in fountain brushes and more particularly to a liquid dentifrice containing toothbrush.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush wherein the handle is utilized as a container for dentifrice and from which dentifrice can be dispensed to the toothbrush bristles in a convenient and sanitary manner.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In, the drawing- Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of the brush.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view through the head of the brush showing the dispensing tube.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the rell cartridge.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawing wherein like nu.

merals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 represents a brush head having the outstanding bristles 6, while numeral I denotes a cylindrical shaped handle of elongated extent and having an open butt end.

The handle 1 is hollow and communicates with the duct 8 extending longitudinally in the head E at a tapering seat 9 where the inside of the handle 'i constricts to merge with the duct 8.

The head 5 is formed with a bore I0 at right angles to the duct 8 and meeting the outer' end thereof, this bore being adapted to receive the inner end of a exible tube II which extends into the bristles 6. The outer end of this tube I I is constricted but formed with a slit I2 through which toothpaste from the refill cartridge I3 Vcan iiow when pressure is exerted on the content of the cartridge. j

The cartridge consists of an elongated tube Il having a conical-shaped end I5. This conicalshaped end I5 has a small orifice I6 in the apex thereof, which is closed by a cap I'I when the cartridge is for sale on the market,

The other end of the tube I4 is formed with a circumferentially extending channel I8 for receiving the inwardly disposed rib I9 on a compressible rubber cap 20.

The cartridge is sold on the market as shown in Figure 5 and is of such diameter as to very snugly t frictionally in the handle 1, so that no additional securing means will be necessary. The cartridge is lled by removing the resilient cap 2li and pouring the dentifrice into the cartridge.

Obviously compression ofthe cap 2li will result in discharge of the liquid dentifrice from the tube Il, through the duct 8 and the tube II, expanding the slit end of the tube Il to permit escape to the bristles B of the brush.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit` and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A toothbrush comprising'a hollow handle, a brush head extending from one end of the handle, said head having a valved duct extending from the bristle side of the head to communicate with the adjacent end of the hollow handle, said hollow handle being formed with a tapered seat at the point wherethe duct communicates with the `interior of the handle, an elongated liquid dentifrice ccntaining cartridge frictionally fitting in the handle and being provided with a tapered discharge end snugly sea "ug against the tapered seat in the handle, said cartridge being of a length allowing the opposite end portion of the same to protrude beyond the free end of the hollow handle when the taperedend of the cartridge is snugly seated against the seat of the handle, and a cylindrical compressible cap overlapping the protruding end portion of the cartridge and beingV of an external diameter equivalent to the external diameter of the hollow handle, said cap being free from connection with the handle whereby said cartridges may be pulled out of the handle by grasping said cap.

DIMAN B. EATON. 

